These animals are so sagacious that they will scrape all round a trap, let it be ever so well set, and, after eating all the bait, walk away unhurt. Indians, consequently, endeavour in every possible way to catch them, and, among others, by setting two traps close together; so that while the wolf scrapes at one, he may perhaps put his foot in the other. It is in this way that our Indian friend's traps are set, and he now proceeds cautiously towards them, his gun in the hollow of his left arm.
海岸狼非常狡猾,它们会刮掉陷阱周围的雪,安心的吃完所有的诱饵后,毫发无损的走开,只留下那个完好的陷阱。因此,印第安人经常尝试用每一种的方式去狩猎它们,在所有尝试过的方式中,安置两个相距较近的陷阱是最佳的狩猎方式;这样,在狼刮擦其中一个陷阱时,它的脚也许会被另一个夹住。我们的印第安朋友就是以这样的方式来设置陷阱的,现在,他小心翼翼的靠近这两个夹子,并且用左臂弯夹住了猎枪。
Slowly he advances, peering through the bushes; but nothing is visible. Suddenly a branch crashes under his snow-shoe, and with a savage growl a large wolf bounds toward him, landing almost at his feet! A single glance, however, shows the Indian that both traps are on its legs, and that the chains prevent its further advance. He places his gun against a tree, draws the axe from his belt, and advances to kill the animal.
他慢慢向前行进,紧盯着灌木丛中;但是什么也看不见。忽然,他的脚下踩碎了一根树枝,接着传来了一声野蛮的咆哮,一只大狼向他扑过来,几乎就在他的脚边!然后只匆匆一瞥,印第安人就看到狼的双脚都已经被两个陷阱套住,链条阻止了它进一步向前的行动。猎人把枪斜靠在一棵树上,从腰带里拿出斧头,上前去砍那只狼。
It is, however, an undertaking of some difficulty. The fierce brute, which is larger than a Newfoundland dog, strains every nerve and sinew to break its chains, while its eyes glisten in the uncertain light, and foam curls from its blood-red mouth. Now it retreats as the Indian advances, grinning horribly the while; and anon, as the chains check its further retreat, it springs with fearful growl toward the Indian, who slightly wounds it with his axe, as he jumps backward just in time to save himself from the infuriated animal, which catches in its fangs the flap of his leggin, and tears it from his limb. Again the Indian advances, and the wolf retreats and again springs on him, but with out success.
不过,这个任务有点困难。这个凶猛的野兽比纽芬兰狗还要大,它竭尽全力想要挣脱铁链,而它的眼睛在昏暗的光线下闪着贼光,血红的大嘴了还吐出白沫。当印第安人向前迈进一步时,它后退了,同时露出狰狞的獠牙,不时的,当铁链牵制着它不能再向后退时,它便嚎叫着跳向猎人,而猎人则用斧子轻轻地砍伤它一点,随后赶紧向后跳,以避过被激怒的狼,狼的尖锐的獠牙咬住了他的绑腿的边缘,将布从他的腿上撕扯下来。印第安人再次上前,而狼又后退然后跳向他,但是都已失败告终。
At last, as the wolf glances for a moment to one side—apparently to see if there is any way of escape—quick as lightning the axe flashes in the air, and descends with stunning violence on its head; another blow follows, and in five minutes more the animal is bound to the sledge.
最后,就在狼望向另一边,显然是在寻找是否有路可逃时,猎人的斧头在空中闪过一道亮光,用力落在狼的头上;接着又是一下,只用了五分多钟,印第安人便将那头野狼绑在了雪橇上。